Family photos at home are one of my favorite types of sessions to photograph. There’s something really special about capturing your family in your own space because it adds such an intimate and authentic element to the images.
I recently had the pleasure of photographing Sarah and Greg at home with their son Owen. I was so grateful to photograph their wedding at the Boston Public Library a few years ago, and getting to document this new chapter of their lives was really special!
My approach to in-home sessions is to capture the everyday moments that make up this incredible time in your lives. These are the ones that will bring back floods of memories and emotions when you look back on them years from now. They’ll look beautiful printed and framed on your walls, but more than that, they’ll bring you right back to this stage of your lives.
So today I’m sharing my best tips for making the most of your in-home family session!
Tips for Meaningful Family Photos at Home in Boston
Plan Around Your Family’s Routines
One of the best things about an in-home session is the flexibility. We can schedule around lighting, but also around nap times and meal times. It really helps to make sure everyone is fed and rested before we get started, because happy and comfortable kiddos make for the best photos!
Focus on Interaction and Play
This is an intimate session because we are inside your home, which adds another layer of significance to the images. Your home reflects your family at this exact time in your lives, and that’s something really worth embracing.
So rather than posing, focus on interacting with each other the way you naturally would at home. The goal is to bring out the genuine connection that is true to how you are when you’re together. These are the moments that will mean the most when you look back on them!
Be Intentional About Light
Light-filled spaces add so much to photographs. If there are specific locations in your home you have in mind, we can plan around the lighting in those spots at different times of day to make sure we’re working with the best natural light available. I can always help you decide this too if you’re unsure!
Have a Few Locations in Mind
It’s a great idea to think through a few different spots in your home ahead of our session, such as indoor and outdoor spaces, or a few rooms that feel significant to your family right now. This not only adds variety to your gallery but is also a beautiful way to capture more of what this season of life looks like for your family.
Incorporate an Activity You Love
One of my favorite ways to capture authentic moments is to incorporate an activity your family loves. You can do things like bake together, have bath time, read, paint, or even give the kids haircuts! Anything that feels natural and fun for your family will create genuine interactions and some beautiful candid moments for your photos.
Dress Comfortably
Your in-home session is a reflection of your real life, so start with what feels comfortable and authentic to you. What are your go-to outfits? What can you comfortably sit on the floor or couch in? Start there, and then we can talk through tips for coordinating everyone’s looks together.
More Tips for Meaningful Family Photos at Home
The more you lean into your real, everyday life, the more meaningful your photos will be. These images will be so much more precious to you years from now because they reflect exactly who your family was at this moment in time! So here are a few more tips to keep your session genuine and authentic:
Don’t Worry About Your Home Being Perfect
This one is important – there is no pressure to clean your whole house before our session! Remember that we want your home to look lived-in and authentic. Things like refrigerators covered in artwork, shoes by the door, and fingerprints on windows are all fleeting details that are absolutely okay to have in your photos.
That said, it can help to tidy up any stacks of clutter that might detract from the main focus of your photos in the specific spots we’ll be photographing. If you can, put away stacks of mail or piles of laundry so the focus stays on your family.
Embrace the Kids and Let Them Lead
I always recommend letting the kids take the lead during your session. It’s completely normal for them to take the session in a different direction, and that’s what makes your photos feel authentic to your family! Be present with them and keep the interactions positive. It’s understandable if there is a little meltdown or your child gets really silly. We’ll keep going, and it will be beautiful!
[Looking for more tips for family photos? Check out this post.]
Boston Family Photographer
As a Boston family photographer, my approach to in-home sessions is all about capturing the real moments and genuine connections that make your family so special. We’ll capture some portrait photos, but we’ll focus more on your family’s natural interactions for some really beautiful images.
If you’re interested in scheduling a family session in Boston or the surrounding New England area, I’d love to hear from you! Reach out to me through my contact page, and we’ll start planning a session that feels perfect for your family.
